We arrived this morning at the beautiful monastery of Jasna Gora - the home of the Black Madonna. This depiction of the Blessed Mother is said to have been painted by Saint Luke. However, history would deem otherwise - probably dating back from the early 1300’s. She has been venerated in this same spot since 1320 or so. Each day a silver door hiding the painting and protecting from corrosive elements, rises up amidst trumpet blares and drums. It’s a very dramatic and inspiring tribute to the value the Polish people place on this devotion to the Blessed Mother. At one point invaders stole the painting and other valuables from the monastery. The painting was cut into three different pieces and disposed of along the side of a roadway. While artists worked to restore it, two cuts from the face of the Madonna remain - as a reminder of the theft.
Our Mass today was in the St. John Paul II shrine. Fr. Marty Dober, a priest of Cleveland now studying in Rome, presided. We went on a walking tour throughout the monastery and we were deeply moved by a Polish artisan’s depiction of the Stations of the Cross. Each towering painting depicting not only the horrific scenes of Jesus’ last journey to Golgotha but depictions from the history of the Polish people transposed into the works of art. It was amazing to see St. John Paul II and the Black Madonna depicted in the scenes of the crucifixion.
The shrine welcomes 6 million visitors every year and provides the Mass and Sacraments for hundreds of visitors each and every day. For us on retreat, the sun finally shone today! We’ve had rain each day up until now so to wander outside and not avoid raindrops was a bonus!
The faith of the Polish people is nothing short of miraculous. Through invasions by the Swedes, the Lithuanians, the Germans and the Russians the Catholic faith of this nation remains strong and vibrant.
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